Demon's Souls is a lonely game. Even though its multiplayer features are geared towards letting players know that their suffering is shared, a Demon's Souls player is alone in Boletaria.
From Software and Sony have chosen to remind players of this fact, releasing a Demon's Souls dynamic theme onto the Japanese PSN store. Since sensible PS3 owners have likely forgotten all about them, dynamic themes are basically animated 3D themes for the XMB. Most include custom sound sets, XMB icons, and alternating, active wallpapers. Most also cost money, and make your PS3 look like a big fat game ad.
However, the Demon's Souls theme looks quite different, and to me feels beautifully understated. Based on the Nexus hub area, the only signs of life in the theme are flickering torches, the animated floor design, and the Maiden in Black who hangs out on the stairs, eyes still occluded by wax. Waiting for the player to respawn after dying horribly for the umpteenth time, she remains ready to convert souls into stat points as always.
Hm. With her in mind, perhaps a Demon's Souls player isn't that alone after all. The theme costs 200 Yen, and I can't buy it because the Japanese PSN doesn't accept foreign credit cards (bastards!). I hereby call upon Atlus and Sony to bring this gem to English-speakers immediately.
Check below to see a video of the theme in er...action. Any Demon's Souls fanboys want it?
I HATE most of the dynamic themes and all microtransactions in general, but every once in a while something comes along to make me change my tune (MGS4 LBP pack anyone?). Demon's Souls is one of the best games I have ever played EVER and so I am 100% absolutely getting this theme ASAP!!!
@Magnalon: Thanks for the mention. I'd say that the dynamic theme they made would be way better if they added some custom icons. It still looks nice, though.
That's pretty cool actually, though I'm happy enough with the totally free Valkyria theme. And sorry man, but Ckarasu's theme kinda blows. If you have a widescreen TV running the XMB at 1080p, the background on it looked like low-res stretched ass =/.
@Wedge: Well, I can always just send you a background that will look better. I found a few images that are perfect for HD tvs. I can just replace the background and re-compile it.
@Wedge: I'm not really a "sound" person. I can assure you that I'll screw that part up, somehow. But, I can always write up a tutorial blog on how to make your own theme. It seems like something people would be interested in.
I've had yen sitting in my PSN for like.. 2 years now? With nothing to buy with it. 1200 yen left from buying R-Type Delta and some other PS1 games from back when the US PSN had nothing on it.
For 200 yen, methinks I need to just buy this theme. I keep looking at it and wanting to just buy it, so why am I being retarded.
I've never bought any themes ( and the EU wipeout dynamic theme is easily the best one and free to) but I would pay for this if it came to america, if only because atlus and from software tend to make my favorite games.
after you rescue Biorr of the Twin Fangs in 1-3, he comes to aid you in the fight with the boss of that section, and then fights with you in 1-4 against the dragon.... just... his triumphant rush to help, when every other boss was fought alone (if you never did any multi) was just amazing. I felt this amazing comradeship with him, and I had just "met" him.
Make a European account and there a couple of dynamic themes that are for free. They're actually quite good and have convinced me that some dynamic themes are worth the money. There needs to be some free dynamic themes in the American store to help convince others that the dynamic theme are worth it like the European store did for me.
I had 400 yen sitting around in my Japanese PSN account after redeeming a 1000 yen certificate I bought from PlayAsia to pick up a PSOne Classic, so I picked this up last week when I stumbled upon it (have yet to buy Demon's Souls, however).
I love it, even though I have no idea who that person is or why the post-modern-art-deco room's so damn depressing.
I downloaded the free Wipeout dynamic theme from the euro store and it's really awesome. I really want this DS's theme though... I might even pay for it.
@anchorman84 rumours, yes...remember, there were SIX archstones; you only go to FIVE worlds, and the last one (the one which went 'to the land of the giants') is broken without EXPLICIT game reference that it's irrevocably gone. thus, opportunity.
facts, though? fact is, the game's been out for a good long time in Japan with never any substantive word about DLC, and while it's been something of a cult hit here i'm doubting it's amassed a large enough fanbase for From Software to consider it worthwhile.
They should reward different backgrounds to players each time they beat the game. The best one after beating it a 5 time being an action shot of your character or something. I'd be all over that.
I was actually looking for this just yesterday, and ended up buying the horrible (and non-animated!) 'abstract' theme. Anyway, I would definitely buy this.
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Contest:
10:00 AM on 11.13.2009
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Although, will they bring it to Europe while the game doesn't even have a publisher over here?
WHOA WHOA WHOA
Has there been any talk/rumours of DLC!?!
So very nice, but no thanks.
For 200 yen, methinks I need to just buy this theme. I keep looking at it and wanting to just buy it, so why am I being retarded.
Theme get.
**SPOILERS**
after you rescue Biorr of the Twin Fangs in 1-3, he comes to aid you in the fight with the boss of that section, and then fights with you in 1-4 against the dragon.... just... his triumphant rush to help, when every other boss was fought alone (if you never did any multi) was just amazing. I felt this amazing comradeship with him, and I had just "met" him.
So cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyeemtS1jII
Make a European account and there a couple of dynamic themes that are for free. They're actually quite good and have convinced me that some dynamic themes are worth the money. There needs to be some free dynamic themes in the American store to help convince others that the dynamic theme are worth it like the European store did for me.
I love it, even though I have no idea who that person is or why the post-modern-art-deco room's so damn depressing.
this is a theme id pay for
facts, though? fact is, the game's been out for a good long time in Japan with never any substantive word about DLC, and while it's been something of a cult hit here i'm doubting it's amassed a large enough fanbase for From Software to consider it worthwhile.
demons souls...
yeah
Definitely.